Alois schneider



A. SCHNEIDER. Breeoh-Lpading Fire-Arm.

No. 226,679. Patented April 20, I880.

Inventor FIG.3.

Witnesses Q day 44 UNITED, STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALOIS SCHNEIDER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BREECH-LOADINGfFlRE ARM.

srnomrcn'rrow forming part of Letters Patent No. 226,679, dated April 20, 1880.

Application filed April 14, 1879- To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, ALoIs SCHNEIDER, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State'of Galiforniaahave invented an Improvement in Breech- Loading Fire- Arms; and -I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to certain improvements in fire-arms and its object is more particularly to change the old style of muzzleloading weapons into breech-loaders. This is accomplished by making a block to fit into a slot cut into the barrel, said block being hinged and provided with a snap-catch, and also having a firing-pin passing through it, by means of which the cartridge is exploded. The block is thrown back for the insertion of .the cartridge, and an extractor is inserted in the bar'- rel for throwing out the shell.

The nipple is removed and the breech recessed or bored, so that peculiarly-arranged pins will be operated by the fall of the ham mer, so as to push the firing-pin forward and explode the cartridges.

The ordinary lock, stock, and barrel of a common muzzle-loader are used without further change, and the weapon is thus changed into a breech-loader, as is more fully shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is aview of myinvention, showing the breech opened out and the cartridge partly extracted. Fig. 2 is a section of the breechblock and a perspective view of the catches and snap. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section.

Let Arepresent the barrel of an ordinary rifle made originally for a muzzle'loa-der. Forward of the standing-breech I cut a section and fit intoit a block, (3, hinged to thebarrel, as shown. This'bloek G is formed so that the upper part corresponds to the shape of the barrel outside, and its lower circular portion fits'into the bore of the gun. The under side of the lower portion is cut away, as shown at b, so as to leave a space for the expansion of the gases. 7

Two catches, c, operated by a thumb-piece, d, having a beveled end, a, and pivoted at 1), run lengthwise in this block, both being drawn back toward the center by the centrally-placed thumb-piece forcing its beveled end into ofi"- sets or :v. When the block is closed into the slots.

' barrel these catches spring into slots 0 at each end of the opening, so the'block is held firmly in place, as shown. The lower edges of the catches are beveled, as shown, so as to be easily pushed back into the block, and suitable springs throw them out when in line with the The block is thus held down at both ends. Through the center of the lower portion of the block passes the firing-pin f, provided with a coiled spring for drawing it back into position after it is thrown forward, as hereinafter described. Y

In order to utilize the standing-breech of the muzzle-loading gun without making expensive changes, 1 simply remove the nipple from the socket and screw in anipple,1), having a pin, g, provided with a spring for throwin g it up. The lower end of this pin is beveled off, as shown, and strikes in the beveled end of a transverse pin, it, which, being beveled also on the other end, meets in a corresponding manner the beveled driyer j, the outer end of which-is in line with the firing-pin in the block. This beveled driver is fitted with a spring for throwing it back into place.

The ordinary lock, trigger, hammer, 850., are used as originally made with the gun. As the hammeris thrown down by the spring it strikes the pin in the nipple, which operates the transverse pin and driver, thus throwing forward the firing-pinin' the block, which strikes the primer in the cartridge and explodes the powder. cartridge lies immediately in front of the block in a position to be struck by the firing-pin.

On the side of the barrel is placed ashellextractor, E, having a thumb-piece or lug, l, on one and to push it back by, and on the other end, which comes inside the barrel, is a catch, m, which lies behind the rim or flange of the cartridge. To throw the cartridge out the block is swung back on its hinge and the extractor drawn back. This throws the cartridge back into the space left vacant by the block, and it will fall out. Another one may then be put in and the block closed.

By this means I uti l'zc the old-fashioned breech-loadin g rifles by altering them in an inexpensive manner into breech-loaders. New guns may be made in this style also, if desired but I intend my invention more particularly When the gun is ready to fire the for the class of Weapons I have described. combination with the operating thumb-piece The'ext-ractor might be arranged to operate d, substantially as and for the purpose herein by the act of throwingback the breech-block. described.

Having thus described my invention, what I In witness whereof I have hereuntovset my 5 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters hand.

Patent, is

The breech-block U, hinged at one side so as ALOIS SCHNEIDER to swing on alongitudinal. axis, and having Witnesses: the double pin or catch 0, operating in oppo- CHAS. G. YALE,

10 site directions, so as to look at each end, in S. H. NOURSE. 

